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WISCONSIN SPORTS ROUND-UP: Gomez named Brewers' MVP

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Brewers' centerfielder Carlos Gomez was named the team's Most Valuable Player today by the local chapter of the Baseball Writers Association.

Right-hander Kyle Lohse was named the Brewers' Most Valuable Pitcher. Rightfielder Norichika Aoki was picked as the Crew's "unsung hero," just beating out reliever Brandon Kintzler. And catcher Jonathan Lucroy received the team's "Good Guy" award as a player who's easily accessible to reporters, and a positive force in the community. Gomez was a unanimous choice as the team's MVP. He received first-place votes on all eight ballots that were cast. Gomez had career-highs with 24 homers, 40 stolen bases, 83 RBI's, and a .284 batting average -- and he was named a Major League All-Star for the first time. Gomez was the first player in team history to get at least 20 homers and 40 steals in the same year, and he was the only big leaguer to achieve it this season. Lohse topped Milwaukee with 20 quality starts. He didn't sign until the end of Spring Training, and Lohse had a rough start before going 10-4 in his final 22 appearances.

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Milwaukee Bucks' back-up center Ekpe Udoh did not make the trip to Cleveland for tonight's exhibition opener. Udoh is still bothered by an injured right knee suffered during last week's workouts at Training Camp. Bucks' coach Larry Drew says Udoh's absence will give some unexpected playing time to 7-1 center Miroslav Raduljica. He signed with the Bucks this summer after Gustavo Ayon was released. The Bucks had a shoot-around at Quicken Loans Arena before tonight's contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Afterward, coach Larry Drew said the 25-year-old Raduljica will get a good early test on how he can handle the NBA game. Also, Milwaukee's first round draft choice could get some playing time early. 18-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo will surely get his feet wet in the pre-season, and that's exactly what Drew wants. Drew says he'll mix-and-match players a lot during the seven exhibition games, to get a look at different player combinations.

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Stevens Point native Janel McCarville is two games away from a WNBA championship. She's the starting center for the Minnesota Lynx, which will play Game-Two of the league finals tonight in Minneapolis. The Lynx have a one-game-to-none lead over the Atlanta Dream in the best-of-five title series. McCarville was brought in to keep the ball moving in the middle, and to help out teammate Lindsay Whalen. The two played together in college at the University of Minnesota. The 30-year-old McCarville is averaging almost four points and over five rebounds per game in her first pro playoff run. After tonight, the series moves to Atlanta for Game-Three on Thursday.

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Former Green Bay Packers' receiver and kick returner Jeremy Ross has reportedly been signed to the Detroit Lions' practice squad. An ESPN contributor reported the move, after the Packers released Ross the day after he muffed a kickoff in Green Bay's Week-Three loss at Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Jordan Rodgers -- younger brother of Aaron Rodgers -- has signed onto the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad. Jordan quarterbacked at Vanderbilt for two years, after sitting out a year with a shoulder operation.

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Dylan Van Straten of Lakeland is the football player-of-the-week on offense in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Van Straten, a senior quarterback, passed for a career-high four touchdowns including a five-yard game-winner in overtime. Luke Scheuerlein of Concordia-Mequon has been named the league’s top defensive player. The sophomore linebacker had 10 tackles and an interception in a one-point Concordia victory over Benedictine. Tanner Wilcox of Aurora is the special teams player-of-the-week. The NACC also recognized Sara Travia of the Milwaukee School of Engineering in women’s soccer – Trevor Koziczkowski of Milwaukee Engineering and Julia Favorite of Wisconsin Lutheran in cross country – Kelli Johnson of Wisconsin Lutheran in volleyball – Michael Mathwick of Edgewood in men’s golf – and Laeren Yates of Alverno in women’s tennis.

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John Kelly of UW-Platteville, Cole Klotz of Whitewater, and Clint Larsen of Eau Claire are the WIAC football players-of-the-week. Kelly, a senior quarterback, tied at Platteville school record with seven touchdown passes in a 49-27 win over Eau Claire on Saturday. He threw for 442 yards, the fourth-most in school history with 15 completions going for 15 yards or more. Klotz, a senior linebacker, had nine tackles in Whitewater's 47-to-3 pounding of La Crosse. Larsen, a sophomore, won the special teams' honor for returning a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in Eau Claire's loss to Platteville. It was the longest kickoff return in Eau Claire history, and the first for a touchdown since 1987. The WIAC also recognized Jessop Keene of Stout and Alyssa Luker of La Crosse in cross country -- Sam Novak of Whitewater and Matt Cheaney of Oshkosh in men's soccer -- Caroline Henderson of Eau Claire and Jordan Myers of Whitewater in women's soccer -- Kayla Ashland of La Crosse in volleyball -- Katie Gillman of Eau Claire in women's singles' tennis -- and Gillman and Maddie Johnson of Eau Claire in doubles' tennis.